Coles in fresh backflip over bags
COLES has done a double backflip on its free plastic bags and will recommence charging customers for them after coming under fire from green groups and consumers for giving them away for free.
The supermarket giant on Wednesday decided to provide its thick, reusable plastic bags for free indefinitely, instead of charging 15 cents each as part of its program to get shoppers to switch from using single-use plastic bags. But after a barrage of criticism in the following 24 hours, managing director John Durkan told staff customers will have to start paying for the bags after August 29.
In a message to the retailer’s 115,000 staff yesterday, Mr Durkan said the ban on singleuse plastic bags had been a “big and difficult” change for customers. While customers had been growing more accustomed to bringing reusable bags, many were still one or two short at the register.
“That’s why we are extending our complimentary bag offer until Wednesday, 29 August for our customers in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, and Western Australia,” he said.
“I appreciate this transition phase is taking longer than anticipated but it is … the right thing to do by our customers.”